Dental Home for children

The ongoing relationship between the dentist and the patient is called “Dental Home.” This means the dental clinic where you take your child regularly for routine check-ups becomes a Dental Home of your child. Just like parents take their children to a Pediatrician’s clinic for routine health check-ups and vaccinations, they should also take their children to a Pediatric Dentist’s clinic for regular dental check-ups so as to prevent dental problems and maintain good oral health.

Establishing a Dental Homefor children has twofold advantage!

 

 

Establish the Dental Home for your child at the earliest, ideally by his/her 1^st birthday!

Early start serves the purpose of the Dental Home most effectively! Early investment of time in short regular dental visits is very effective in preventing development of complicated dental problems in future which then need time consuming treatment.

Dental Home offers comprehensive oral health care for children in continuously accessible, coordinated and family centred way!

The Pediatric Dental Clinic which is also the Dental Home of your child, can be relied upon for excellent oral health care provided to your child in a home-like, child friendly environment. The Pediatric Dentist is your child’s favourite uncle or aunty whom they like visiting!  

Establishing a Dental Home is the first step towards preventive dental care for children. So, do not wait for a toothache to take your children to a dentist; instead find a Pediatric Dental Clinic as your children’s Dental Home and save them from having any toothache!

BEHAVIOR GUIDANCE – Making dental treatment fun for children!

Dental treatment for children seems to be impossible to many parents due to anxiety and fear associated with the dentist. (sometimes parents are more anxious than their children!) Children may remain deprived of good oral and general health because of untreated cavities and other dental problems due to fear of dental treatment.

The pediatric dentists are specially trained in series of techniques called as “Behavior Guidance” that help to not only allay the fear of a child about dentistry but also make the dental treatment enjoyable for children.

“Behavior Guidance” is an art as well as science based on principles of child psychology. The various techniques of Behavior Guidance slowly guide the child through the dental treatment with an educative approach. It starts with introduction of the child to the dental environment followed by performance of simple dental procedures gradually moving towards a more complex ones. 

Here is how it goes...                     

e.g. if a new child patient has to undergo procedure of cleaning cavities, the basic Behavior Guidance techniques are used in following way: 

Children like to be appreciated for good behavior.

A gift as simple as a cartoon sticker also works wonders!

Thus, now no need to get scared of dental treatment for children when Pediatric Dentistry is here to deliver a healthy smile to our little ones!

FLUORIDE and PIT & FISSURE SEALANT – Dentist’s tools for prevention of cavities in children!

Parents play important role in preventing cavities in children by observing healthy dietary habits as well as maintaining proper oral hygiene for their children.

(Refer previous posts For information on diet and oral hygiene maintenance at home).

In addition to this home care, the pediatric dentist can perform certain procedures in the dental clinic that are further very effective in prevention of cavities. These are:

1. Fluoride application

2. Pit & fissure sealant

Fluoride Application

How does it prevent cavities?

Fluoride is absorbed on the tooth surface and makes the tooth enamel stronger and more resistant to decay.

How is it done?

The procedure of fluoride application is very simple. Fluoride is available in a paste form (called as the “fluoride varnish”).

Step 1: The dentist makes tooth surfaces dry with cotton and air flow.

Step 2:  Fluoride paste is applied to all the teeth with a small brush.

Application of fluoride paste to all teeth is a job of 5 – 10 minutes.

The dual protection of Fluoride

Fluoride application treatment should be repeated every 6 months. It provides a long term benefit as the paste contains high concentration of fluoride. This is in addition to the protection provided through daily use of fluoridated toothpaste which contains low concentration of fluoride.

Pit & Fissure Sealant

How does it prevent cavities?

In many children, the chewing surfaces of the newly erupted milk teeth as well as permanent teeth are quite rough or irregular. These irregularities are called as "grooves", “pits” and “fissures”. 

The pits and fissures tend to entrap food particles and bacteria which are difficult to clean even with the finest toothbrush bristles.

 

The action of entrapped bacteria on food particles in these pits and fissures can thus start the decay which can progress to a large cavity.

As the name suggests, the pit & fissure sealant is a paste-like material that seals these irregularities to make the chewing surfaces of molars smooth, thus preventing the food entrapment and hence the cavity formation.

How is it done?     

Pit & fissure sealant application is also a very simple procedure. The material used is a paste that hardens once placed as sealant.

Step 1: The tooth surface is cleaned and dried with cotton and air flow.

Step 2: Sealant paste is filled in pits and fissures.  

This procedure takes 10-15 minutes for each tooth.  

The dual protection of Pit & Fissure Sealant

The sealant material not only blocks the pits and fissures to make the rough tooth surface smooth, but it also contains fluoride that gives added protection against cavity formation.

Added advantage of Fluoride application and Pit & Fissure sealants

In addition to protection from cavities, fluoride application and pit & fissure sealant treatment also help to make the anxious child comfortable in the dental environment owing to the simplicity of procedures. Because these procedures are quick and easy to perform, they help giving a pleasant dental experience to the child in the initial appointments which are crucial in building the child’s positive attitude about dentistry.    

So, get the fluoride application and the pit & fissure sealant treatment done for your child to keep their teeth in healthy and cavity-free condition!   

MAKING DENTAL TREATMENT FUN FOR CHILDREN…PARENTS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE!

Pediatric Treatment Triangle

Dentist-Child-Parents is a three way interaction! Along with the dentist, parents play a major role in dental treatment of children through their upbringing of the child and their own attitude towards dentistry.

There are multiple factors which influence children’s behavior in the dental clinic and in turn their acceptance of dental treatment. Understanding of these factors by parents would aid them in preparing themselves and their child for the dental visit as well as the treatment in a positive manner. `

A child’s acceptance of dental treatment depends on…

How do parents play a crucial role?

Choosing dental clinic for your child… “Pediatric Dental Clinic” is a better place!!!

The dentist' and the dental staff's way of communication, gestures as well as the appearance of the dental clinic can very much influence the child's comfort level.

 A "Pediatric dentist" and his/her staff are specially trained in dealing with children. The child friendly appearance of the "Exclusive Pediatric Dental clinic" helps the child relax and undergo dental treatment in a playful environment.

   (Read more about the Exclusive Pediatric Dental Clinic in the previous post).  

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY - DENTAL SPECIALITY EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHILDREN

About Pediatric Dentistry…

Pediatric Dentistry is a specialized branch of dentistry developed for dental care of infants and children through their adolescence.

It provides complete oral health care for children with prevention as well as treatment of all kinds of dental problems including:

- Cavities

- Injuries to teeth

- Aesthetics

- Problems of gums

- Abnormal habits like thumb sucking

- Problems related to crooked teeth etc.

It also provides dental care for children with special health care needs such as disabled children or those with medical problems   

How is it different from adult’s dentistry/general dentistry?...

Children do not enter the dental clinic as readily as adults. Fear of unknown or anxiety about dentistry or simply the lack of maturity and coping ability due to young age prevents them from accepting the dental treatment easily.

                                  

Pediatric dentistry is an art and science that includes variety of techniques to modify the child’s behavior in the dental clinic, alleviate their anxiety and slowly guide them through the dental experience so that dental treatment can be readily accepted by them.

For example, one of the techniques called as “Tell-Show-Do” includes stepwise description of the dental procedure to child in a way he/she will understand before actually performing it.     

The pediatric dentist…

Pediatric dentists are trained in child psychology that enables them to communicate with children and help the anxious and uncooperative child relax in the dental operatory. Based on the concepts of child psychology at different ages, they use variety of techniques to help children cope with their apprehension and cooperate for the dental procedures.

                        

For example, in 4-5 year old children, “animism” i. e. looking at everything as live objects is quite prominent. So fighting with the “germ” sitting in the tooth becomes fun for them! The elder ones like to take up challenges! So undergoing dental treatment can be constructed as a “challenging adventure” and its successful completion gives them great feeling of “accomplishment!”

Pediatric dental clinic…

So how does a child agree to come readily into a so-called Dental “Clinic” setup? The word Dental Clinic instills apprehensions in Adults itself, so a child’s feared reaction is no surprise.

This is where Exclusive Pediatric Dental Clinic comes in. Many clinics which practice only Pediatric Dentistry are coming up. Their unique features such as the child friendly appearance, play area full of toys, TV set with cartoon films running and the dental staff well trained in handling kids make them different from a general dental clinic.

Also, presence of many other children, opportunity to observe other children’s treatment helps an anxious child relax and feel comfortable in a these clinics             . 

Moment of pleasure! 

When the pediatric dentist receives 

gift from the little patient as token 

of love!

Pediatric dentistry is “child-centered” not “tooth-centered”!!!

The ultimate aim of pediatric dentistry is not just to perform the dental treatment for the sake of relieving a toothache or solving the dental problem of the child. The goal is to give a child an overall comfortable and enjoyable dental experience so as to instill a “positive attitude” about dentistry in their mind.

The exclusive pediatric dental clinics serve the purpose much better! There remains no “fear factor” for visiting a dentist. Trip to their favorite “dentist uncle/aunty” becomes fun for them, performance of dental treatment being just a part of the game!

Child’s first dental visit - “Get It Done In Year One”

When should you take your child to the dentist for the first time?

The answer is "First visit by first birthday." Surprising?

The child’s first dental visit and oral examination should take place by at least 1 year of age even if there are no dental problems at this age. This “well baby check” enables the dentist and the parents to discuss ways to nurture excellent oral health before any serious problems have had an opportunity to develop. Subsequently, regular check ups should be carried out every 6 months or as suggested by the dentist.

Why so early?

How does the dentist check my little baby? Will my baby allow for check up?

The baby’s check up is done in parent’s presence by taking parent’s help to hold the baby. This not only helps to control the baby’s movements but also gives emotional support to the baby. It is very common and normal for the babies to cry and even be resistant at the first appointment.

Though here is little or no effective communication between the dentist and the child, the child realizes that nothing “bad” happened; and the procedure was permitted by parents themselves. Thus crying and resistance improves over a period as the child grows up and these regular dental check ups contribute in making your child absolutely free of “fear of the dentist”!

What all information you will receive in the initial dental visits of your child?

So gift your baby a healthy smile on his/her first birthday by starting regular dental visits! It is never too early! Neither is it too late to start if your child is already more than 1 year old!

Believe in speciality?

Now you have an option of taking your child to a “Pediatric Dentist” who is specially trained for dental care of children…just as you have a “Pediatrician” who is a specialist in medical care of children!

Know more about Pediatric Dentistry in the next post!

TEETHING

What is teething?

Your baby is teething when his or her first set of milk teeth break through the gums.

When does teething typically start?

Teething usually begins around 6 months of age. The lower front teeth usually come in first. Upper front teeth usually come in 1 to 2 months after the lower front teeth. Parents start to worry if the first teeth are not seen around 6 to 8 months; but it is normal for teething to start at any time between 3 months and 12 months of age.

 

What are the symptoms?

Some babies are fussier than usual when they are teething. This may be because of soreness and swelling in the gums before a tooth comes through.

Teething symptoms may begin about 3 to 5 days before a tooth breaks the skin. But symptoms can be present off and on for 1 to 2 months. They disappear as soon as the tooth breaks the gums. Many babies don't seem to be affected by teething. The most common symptoms of teething include:

• Swelling, tenderness, or discomfort in the gums at the site of the erupting tooth.
• Increased saliva, which can cause drooling. Drooling may cause a rash on the chin, face, or chest.
• Biting on fingers or toys to try to relieve the gum discomfort.
• Refusing to eat and drink because of mouth soreness.
• Irritability and difficulty sleeping.

Mild symptoms that get better usually are nothing to worry about. Call your dentist if your baby's symptoms are severe or don't get better.

Diarrhea and fever during teething???

The common perception is that teething babies and children experience a slight rise in temperature and even diarrhea. However, teething process itself is not related to diarrhea. Because the babies keep on biting fingers or any objects that may be unhygienic, it is the gastrointestinal infection that actually leads to fever and loose motions. The child’s physician or pediatrician needs to be contacted for persistent complaints.

How can you help your baby be more comfortable while teething?

Give your baby cold teething rings to chew on to relieve teething discomfort

Here are some tips to help your baby feel better while teething:

Teething rings

• Use a clean finger (or cold teething ring) to gently rub your baby's gum for about 2 minutes at a time. Many babies find this soothing, although they may protest at first. 
• Provide safe objects for your baby to chew on, such as cold teething rings. 
• Do not use over-the-counter (medicines bought without doctor’s prescription) pain reliever either syrups or gels as they are not safe. Their excessive swallowing by the baby may cause overdose and toxicity. If you want to try these products, talk to your doctor about which types are safe and how often to use them. 

 

Eruption and shedding time table of milk teeth

The four front teeth—two upper and two lower—usually erupt first, beginning as early as six months after birth. Most children have a full set of 20 primary teeth by the time they are 3 years old. The child’s jaws continue to grow, making room for the permanent (adult) teeth that will begin to erupt at about age 6 years. Primary teeth begin to shed between ages 6 and 7 years. This process continues until about age 12 years.

 

“Gaps” between milk teeth is a normal feature and it allows accommodation of large size of permanent teeth that will erupt later.